Lebanese emerges winner of Panenka spot-kick challenge in Benin city

A Lebanese, Hassan Akar, has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge, pocketing a hundred thousand naira cash prize.

Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge is a knockout styled game show, in which the last man standing wins a penalty contest between a designated number of contestants. Eleven players comprising eight males and three females keenly contested the penalty kick challenge, held in Benin City, Edo State recently.

The competition had three knock-out stages. Each player was allowed to take a shot on the goal, while a goalkeeper defended it. Five players were eliminated in the first round and four players in the second round, leaving Hassan Akar and Peter Arewan, to contest in the final round.

Peter, the last Nigerian standing and fan’s delight, couldn’t find the net as the goalkeeper intercepted the shot. Though the goalkeeper followed Hassan’s shot to the right, the ball was too fast for him to interrupt its movement into the goal post.

While congratulating Hassan, the promoter of the event, Osahon Aimiuwu, said that though penalty kicks look very easy, but are difficult to score.   
“In Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge, contestants essentially gain physical and psychological exercise benefits in attempting to repeatedly successfully convert their penalty kicks while ultimately standing the chance of improving their welfare by winning the designated prize money and other significant gift items,” he said.  

The audience was also treated to an entertaining spectacle in watching an unpredictably intriguing game show with varying art appearances/performances in between the game show which heightened the entertainment of the maiden edition.